Whitecaps’ 'keepers want to prove net worth

Gary Kingston, Vancouver Sun07.26.2013

David Ousted, shown playing for Randers FC in the Danish Cup Final against Esbjerg fB on May 9, 2013 in Copenhagen, has been eligible to suit up for his new Vancouver Whitecaps club since July 9.EuroFootball
/ Getty Images

Vancouver ’keeper Brad Knighton, centre — stopping a shot as teammate Jun Marques Davidson, left, and Seattle’s Brad Evans watch during a Sounders-Whitecaps match at BC Place earlier this month — won’t know until Saturday’s game day whether he or perhaps David Ousted, will start in goal against the Philadelphia Union.DARRYL DYCK
/ THE CANADIAN PRESS

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VANCOUVER — Vancouver Whitecaps coach Martin Rennie offers a quick “no” to a question about who his starting goalkeeper might be on Saturday and shoots one of those glaring looks at the television reporter who asked, indicating that he’s stunned the guy even tried to fish for an answer.

The anointed one, David Ousted, says he’s itching to get into Major League Soccer action: “I want to start every week.”

The incumbent, Brad Knighton, just grins like a Cheshire cat when asked if he’s been told who’s starting, insisting — although not convincingly — that he won’t know until game day.

But he’s clear about one thing: he’d be disappointed if one loss in Los Angeles last Saturday puts him back on the bench.

“Yeah, obviously,” Knighton said. “It’s Martin’s decision and you have to take it on the chin and look what you can do better. I felt like I’ve shown enough over these last six or eight weeks that this is my spot to lose. And hopefully one hiccup won’t be the answer for that. We’ll find out (Saturday) what happens.”

Does it really make a difference to the Philadelphia Union who the Caps start in net? Do they actually have an in-depth book on either guy? You know, weak high to the glove, er, right hand. Gives up juicy rebounds off his chest. Doesn’t cover the lower left of the net well.

Reporters who cover the Caps are divided on who they think will start Saturday at BC Place. Some are sure it’s going to be Knighton, asserting he’ll be given at least one more game, this one against his former team. Except that Rennie has never before made decisions for sentimental reasons.

Others believe that now is as good a time as any to insert the guy signed in late June out of Denmark and billed as the long-term solution. Ousted has had a few weeks to get settled, to get acclimatized to teammates and the league. His girlfriend, young daughter and dog all arrived this week, so he’s got to be in a great frame of mind.

He’s also likely making about $190,000, some $120,000 more than Knighton, the undrafted battler who had to drop a level in 2011 to re-establish himself and earn another MLS shot.

And with another highly paid goalkeeper in Joe Cannon collecting similar money as Ousted for being little more now than a practice player, do the Caps really want that much dough tied up in guys who aren’t in the starting 11?

Long-limbed at six-foot-three and extremely athletic, the blond-haired, 28-year-old Ousted looks every bit the fearless, imposing goalkeeper that the scouting reports say he is. He’s been outstanding in practice and has played in three reserve league games.

And starting him in front of a supportive crowd at BC Place, where the Caps are 7-0-3 this season in MLS play, would seem to make sense, as opposed to having him make his debut in raucous, hostile Jeld-Wen Park in Portland, Ore., next weekend, where the Caps have never beaten the Timbers.

Ousted, who had 35 clean sheets in 103 matches for Randers FC in Denmark, says watching the Caps for the past three games has helped him understand what MLS is all about and “what the attackers over here like to do. I feel ready. I feel prepared, so whenever the time is, I think it’ll be good.

“I think it’s a different style of play over here. It’s a lot of attacking (soccer). People go more one-on-one over here. I’ll try to come in and bring some of the European-style defending — be solid at the back and, hopefully, get some clean sheets.”

As for any communication issues with Honduran centre back Johnny Leveron, Ousted says he’ll just scream at him in English, Spanish and a bit of Danish “and hope he understands.”

Has he taught Leveron, who is taking English lessons, any Danish?

“He’ll get to know it,” Ousted added with a laugh.

The Caps are 6-2-2 with Knighton in goal after he replaced Cannon 10 games into the season. He was spectacular in a 2-0 home win over Seattle, but is just 15th in goals against average (1.40) and his 68.8 save percentage is also outside the top 10.

Midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker insists other players haven’t got caught up in which goalkeeper should start. And he says the choice for the stretch run won’t split the team.

“It seems like we’ve grown together as the season has progressed ... with people showing their personality and character now,” Reo-Coker says. “And it just seems like a fun place and that’s something that’s very important to have in a team to win championships.

“And there should be no one who’s guaranteed a starting lineup (spot). Everyone’s got to work for their place and we’re all one team. It’s not that David’s an alien who’s just coming into the team. He’s still a goalkeeper and he’s part of this team.”

GOAL KICKS: Caps striker Darren Mattocks has had surgery for a meniscus tear in his knee and is expected to miss a couple of weeks. “It’s not anything major, so hopefully it won’t be too long,” Rennie said. “It shouldn’t set him back too much.”

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